Bambasala

Bambasala Cardigan by Åsa Tricosa

What is Being Made

Bambasala is a top-down cardigan knitted in aran-weight yarn featuring bold colour blocks and simple, pleasing lines. This intermediate-level design showcases a slightly fitted body with tailored shoulders and set-in sleeves, available in ten sizes ranging from 81 cm (32 inches) to 127 cm (50 inches) in circumference. The cardigan is constructed entirely without seams, creating a seamless garment from neckline to hem.

Construction and Techniques

This cardigan employs the Åsa Tricosa Ziggurat method, a distinctive top-down construction technique that allows the entire garment to be knitted in one continuous piece. The main body is worked from top to bottom with tailored shoulder shaping and a fitted silhouette that includes some ease for comfortable wear. The set-in sleeves are knitted top down in the round, maintaining the seamless construction throughout. Additional design elements including the collar, buttonbands, and pockets are all knitted as you go, eliminating the need for seaming and finishing work after the main knitting is complete.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches worked in a structured manner to create the bold colour-block effect. The top-down construction method requires proficiency with increases for shoulder shaping, circular knitting techniques for the sleeves worked in the round, and integrated edging methods for the collar and buttonbands. The colour-blocking design is achieved through strategic yarn changes that create visual impact while maintaining the simplicity of the stitch pattern.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Bambasala is designed for aran-weight yarn (10-ply), specifically using Little Grey Sheep Gotland Aran, which is 100% wool with a yardage of 176 metres (192 yards) per 100-gram skein. The colour scheme features a main colour in Natural Grey paired with a contrasting colour in Lemoncello for the bold colour blocks. Yardage requirements vary by size: the main colour requires between 550 and 870 metres (600 to 960 yards) depending on size selection, while the contrasting colour requires approximately 230 to 350 metres (250 to 390 yards). Optional scraps in contrasting colours can be used for pocket linings, and alternative yarn suggestions are provided within the pattern.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction methods. The top-down approach and seamless construction require comfort with increases, circular knitting, and integrated finishing techniques, but the straightforward stitch patterns and logical construction sequence make it an achievable project for experienced beginner to intermediate knitters.